Tight Like Unto A Dish

This week as I have been reading in the book of Ether I was moved by the story of the building of barges and the coming to the land of promise by the Jaredite people.  There are lots of details about the barges and how they were constructed.  As I have thought about why that is included in the Book of Mormon  I have come to an understanding about how the barges and the journey are symbols for our lives here in this dispensation.

As the Lord commands the brother of Jared to go about building the barges he continues to describe the construction of the barges as TIGHT LIKE UNTO A DISH.  He describes each part of the barge and then comments that it is to be tight like unto a dish.  What does that symbolize in our lives?  I believe that we are like the barges that will set out on the journey to our promise land, that of eternal life with our Father in Heaven.  We need our lives to resemble that of the barge.  Tight like unto a dish.  There will be many winds and waves that will crash upon us as we travel the water of this earth.  And we will need to have our vessels tight as unto a dish to withstand these trials. 

One of the greatest ways that we can fortify our lives against the storms of this life is to seek the Holy Ghost as our constant companion.  The Holy Ghost protects us from temptations, it makes the good things of this life more appealing and the temptations less attractive.  The Holy Ghost gives us the power to discern truth from falsehood.   President Henry B Eyring teaches us this about the power of the Holy Ghost, “confirmation of truth comes to a son or daughter of God who has claimed the right to receive the Holy Ghost.  Since falsehoods and lies may be presented to us at any time, we need a constant influence of the spirit of Truth to spare us moments of doubt.” The Apostle Peter warns, “Be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8).  President Monson encourages us to “Open your hearts, even your very souls, to the sound of that special voice which testifies of truth.”

As we navigate the waters of life we will need to gain knowledge and light that can only come through the Holy Ghost.  It is like unto the light that was sought by the Jaredites as they began their journey.  In Ether 6:3 it reads, “And thus the Lord caused stones to shine in darkness, to give light unto men, women, and children, that they might not cross the great waters in darkness.”  The Lord does not want us to travel the waters of this life in darkness and will provide the light that we need to have peace and joy in our journey.  We also have the obligation to share the light that we are given to others that are traveling along the path.  Sister Ardeth G Kapp said this about the light that is in our lives, “You have light within you.  You can shine in darkness.  You can light up the world.  You can dispel the darkness; you can make a difference.”  

The Refiner's Fire

“For he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fuller’s soap.  And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness” (3 Nephi 24:2-3)
I was touched by this scripture this week and thought a lot about the times that I have been tried in the refiner’s fire of life.  As I pondered on this scripture and looked for greater understanding I was reading in the LDS institute of religion student manual the following explaining this verse: “Malachi employed powerful symbolism by describing the Messiah’s coming “like a refiner’s fire, and like fuller’s soap”.  A refiner is “a man who separates the precious metals from the dross with which in nature they are usually found mixed. Part of the process consists in the application of great heat, in order to bring the mass into a fluid state, hence the term ‘refiner’s fire’” (Bible Dictionary, “Refiner,” 760)
The Savior is like a refiner. Elder Bruce R. McConkie (1915–85) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained: “His mission is to cleanse, purify, and refine the human soul so that it can return to his Father’s kingdom in purity, free from dross. (3 Nephi 27:19–21)  His cleansing power ‘is like a refiner’s fire, … And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver’ in that great day when he comes to judge the world. (Malachi 3:2–3; 3 Nephi 24:2-3; D&C 128:24)” (Mormon Doctrine, 2nd ed. [1966], 624).
There have been different times in my life that I have felt pain and loss.  When my testimony was struggling and I was not sure what the outcome would be.  But in those times I have often thought back to a dear friend from High School that one day asked me a very simple question, “Are you saying your prayers?”  My answer then was no, and his council was that if I was struggling then maybe I should go ahead and pray.  That simple advice has stuck with me for a very long time and I have called upon that advice more than once.  When things are difficult, am I calling upon the Lord to help me through the refiner’s fire?  Do I turn to His words in the scriptures to find the Balm of Gilead to help me soothe and to heal?

“There are many kinds of challenges. Some give us necessary experiences. Adverse results in this mortal life are not evidence of lack of faith or of an imperfection in our Father in Heaven’s overall plan. The refiner’s fire is real, and qualities of character and righteousness that are forged in the furnace of affliction perfect and purify us and prepare us to meet God.” (Elder Quentin L Cook, 2011) Although it is hard to face the trials that come to us in this life, I know that the Lord will bless us for remaining faithful and by relying on Him.